Full Breakdown
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Planned Attendance at the 25th-Anniversary 9/11 Ceremony
9/8/2026, 12:50:57 PM
Core Event
Mayor Zohran Mamdani will attend New York City’s official 9/11 remembrance ceremony on September 11, marking the 25th anniversary of the attacks. The decision follows a public campaign urging him to stay away, led by former mayor Rudy Giuliani, former governor George Pataki, and a petition signed by roughly 100,000 families of victims.
Background and Context
The ceremony traditionally includes the reading of the names of the nearly 3,000 New Yorkers who died on September 11, 2001. Mamdani, who was nine at the time, signed two executive orders in the weeks before the anniversary: one designating September 11 as a citywide “Day of Remembrance and Service,” and another creating a task force to modernize emergency-preparedness procedures. His chief legal counsel, Ramzi Kassem, previously represented an al Qaida operative linked to the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker; Kassem’s presence at the signing has amplified criticism.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Mamdani’s office said his focus will be on honoring families, survivors, and first responders. The office declined to comment directly on Giuliani’s remarks, referring reporters to a July statement that addressed the petition’s concerns.
Criticism and Opposition
Giuliani and Pataki have compared Mamdani to the hijackers and called his presence “inappropriate,” citing his associations with controversial figures. A Change.org petition has gathered close to 100,000 signatures, arguing that Mamdani’s participation would be “insulting” to victims.
Data and Statistics
- Petition signatures: nearly 100,000 (reports vary between 98,000 and “over 100,000”).
- Victims in New York City: estimates range from “more than 2,700” to “almost 3,000” and “2,977.”
- Executive orders signed: two.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact petition count and casualty figures, with no independently verified total.
Timeline
- September 11 (scheduled): Main memorial ceremony at Ground Zero, with Mamdani expected to attend alongside Vice President JD Vance and former presidents.
- September 4 (scheduled): Mamdani attended a separate service honoring first responders with the Department of Corrections.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Having lost friends there and being very close to many of the families, it offends me that he’s coming.” — Rudy Giuliani
- “This is a moment in our time we should be united as a people,” — Gov. Kathy Hochul
- “I’m proud to be the mayor of the city. I love the city. I love this country,” — Mayor Mamdani
What’s Next
The ceremony will feature the reading of victims’ names and remarks from national leaders. Vice President JD Vance and former presidents are slated to be present. The city’s “Day of Remembrance and Service” will include a moment of silence and events at firehouses and other sites impacted by the attacks.
